Gift in Will - Frequently Asked Quesions

Your Questions Answered

Writing a Will is one of the most personal and significant decisions you’ll ever make.

It’s important to take the time you need and have all the information to help you make up your mind. Here’s a selection of some of the most common questions that we answer for our supporters:

Q. I don’t want my family and friends to miss out, what should I do?
A. We understand that your family and friends come first. All we ask is that once you’ve taken care of your family and friends in your Will, you also consider including a gift to the Stroke Foundation and any of your other favourite charities. Ask your solicitor the best way of providing for your family AND supporting your favourite charities.

Q. Do I have enough money to leave a gift in my Will?
A. It’s a common myth that only the rich, famous or eccentric can leave money to charity in their Wills. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Thousands of Australians from all walks of life leave gifts to their favourite charities every year. Every gift we receive, however large or small, is important to us. They all add up. Even a small percentage of your estate can make an enormous difference in creating a world free from stroke.

Q. What is including a gift in my Will going to cost me?
A. Writing or updating a Will is not as expensive as you might think. Solicitors can provide estimates on request, but the cost will depend on how complex your personal affairs are. You can include a gift to the Stroke Foundation whenever you next have to revise or update your Will at no extra cost.
Search for a local solicitor using our useful links.

Q. How do I make a gift to the Stroke Foundation in my Will?
A. If you wish to remember the Stoke Foundation in your Will, you can use our suggested wording as a guideline. We’d encourage you to make sure that you look after you family and friends first, and then divide whatever is left over to go towards your favourite charities.

Often our supporters leave 90% of their estates to be shared amongst their family and friends and then leave instructions to divide the remaining 10% between their chosen charities.

However, we do recommend you speak to a solicitor, Trustee company or financial advisor to get their advice and make sure your final wishes are reflected in your Will.

It is important to note in your Will that gifts are left to the Stroke Foundation and also include reference to our ABN 42 006 173 379.

Q. Can I add a gift to the Stroke Foundation in my existing Will?
A. If you’ve already written a Will but would like to add a gift to the Stroke Foundation you can easily do so by adding a codicil – which is a short legal amendment – to your existing Will with the help of your solicitor. Visit our
useful links page to find your local solicitor or Trustee Company.

Q. How will the Stroke Foundation use the bequest gift I leave in my Will?
A. A gift in your Will that supports our work in general terms provides the Stroke Foundation with the greatest flexibility to respond to critical priorities in the future. If you’d like your gift used for something specific, please speak to our Gifts in Wills Team to discuss your options.

Q. Can I tell you once I’ve included a gift in my Will?
A. We will always respect your privacy. We recognise and appreciate that your Will is completely personal to you and we’ll honour your gift with the care, sensitivity and respect it deserves.

We’d love to hear from you if you’ve included a gift in your Will for the Stroke Foundation. If you do choose to tell us, we’d love to thank you personally. Of course we’ll give you the choice about how we talk to you in the future about our fight against stroke.